A24 set the tone for TIFF’s Midnight Madness with their world premiere of camp comedy Dicks– The Musical, the film adaptation of Larry Charles’ off-Broadway musical Fucking Identical Twins. The crowd of Midnight Madness, the TIFF section that showcases cult films at late times, seemingly only had cheers and applause for A24’s first musical movie.

“Sides will be split– both figuratively and literally (on-screen)– as Midnight Madness returns to the Royal Alexandra Theatre with another stimulating concoction of unpredictable shock and ‘y’arr!’ cinema,” said Peter Kuplowsky, TIFF International Programmer, Midnight Madness, of the criteria for the section.

Josh Sharpe and Aaron Jackson reprise their roles from the musical in the film, which also stars Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Megan Thee Stallion, and Bowen Yang. Sharpe, Jackson, and Yang took to the stage before the screening to thank SAG-AFTRA for granting them an interim agreement to promote the film.

“Thank you, SAG! We didn’t know if we could be here until yesterday morning,” said Jackson. “This movie started as a two-person show that we’d do in the basement of a grocery store.”

They also read a message from Larry Charles, who said, “I have had many experiences making movies: Some great, some amazing, some horrific, some really horrific. But none as joyous and fun as the experience of making Dicks– The Musical. Josh and Aaron have written something particular. You can call it a musical, you can call it a comedy, but it is so much more. It defies description and transcends genres, and our collaboration through the entire process was nothing less than exhilarating.”

Dicks– The Musical hits theaters in the U.S. on Sept. 29.